high heels crunched over shattered glass an

e glance for the girl lying in the massive pool of b

y. Her hands shook violently as she ripped an emergency life-support syr

nd Joi, pushing a hovering stasis

n. He grabbed a portable defibrillator

ead around. Her e

ice tearing her throat. "Focus everythin

ly dropped the paddles and rushed to

nd unclenching. He opened his mouth, the urge to say something fighting against his throat. But the wei

ay, the sirens fading down the ha

issed shut. They left Aislinn lying on the freezing

assed in abso

attling cough

e blast had pooled in her nervous system, acting as a natural pacem

y, spinning mess. Every single bone in her body

al clear on one fact: in this Academy, lettin

with blood-soaked hands and dug her fingernails i

reamed, fresh hot blood spilling over her ribs. Her eyes were co

into the shadows beneath the ventilation ducts, avoiding the main

nd her, the automated cleaning drones hummed to life

ushed against the rusted metal

humb against the

e lock d

for Aislinn to throw her weig

rride lock. The heavy bolts shot into place

he gasped for air, her lungs burning

black metal necklace she always wore. It was a dark matter drive she had

p. A microscopic needle sli

islinn jammed the needle directly

ooded her bloodstream. It hit

ntly projected directly onto her retina